[PRP] Fruitless

[bughnrahk]

Redeemed

The air stank of rabbits, just as cloying and claustrophobic as the brambles closing in around Savage. He bullied his way through them, shoulder first, using the thick protection of his armor to save him from the worst thorn pricks. Every cell in his scarred body urged him to shove away from the rabbit smell, but he squashed the urge, snapping his frustration with a useless gnash of teeth. He'd been travelling on his own for seasons now in search of littermates that were no doubt long dead.

Savage knew he shouldn't bother, but he was alone now. What else did he have to do but search for them? He'd traveled through most of Tanglewood with no luck, over hills and meadows, terrorized his way passed softer warrens until he was certain their squeaks of 'none like you here' were truthful. This Bramblefell Warren was a chance, and as much as it pained him to crawl his way through thorn bushes in search of a rabbit calling himself 'King', Savage would do it.

A nettle bit into his already torn ear.

Savage snarled and whirled at it, crunching the offending stick between his teeth. It snapped clean and loud, biting pinpricks of pain in Savage's mouth.

"How much further?" he snapped.

wc: 211

@Ellanoire

 

[Ellanoire]

Redeemed

It was a lovely spring day, and Malva was quite content to spend it nibbling at bramble sprouts. For some it was an acquired taste, but she didn't remember a time when she didn't love them. They'd gotten her through her kithood, and sustained her long enough to catch the attention of exactly who she needed to. Now she didn't really need to be eating these, but it was always wise to remember where you came from.

It was also nice to be out of the warren for a little bit, away from the demands of others. She had several does under her, not to mention her own daughters and sons that she had to carefully manage. It was important to ensure none outshone her, and she maintained her favored position. So far, so good.

Taking another delicate shoot in her mouth, she heard a noise among the brambles she didn't just seem like some bird. It was much rougher, heavier. And then a question. She swallowed her mouthful, and decided to investigate. She was within shouting distance of the warren, and had no fear that several burly rabbits could come defend her if needed. But really, she'd rather handle whatever this was herself.

She carefully hopped forward, searching for the source of the sound. Ah - there. He was certainly a fearsome rabbit to behold, wasn't he? That didn't phase her. She was used to Uzo and Maze and Joxer himself. Look could certainly be performative though.

"I think that's far enough." She addressed the stranger coldly. "Surely you know you are within Bramblefell territory, and King Joxer doesn't take kindly to interlopers." She raised a brow at him, daring him to respond incorrectly.

wc: 282
@bughnrahk

 

[bughnrahk]

A voice cut through the quiet as Savage barged his way through brambles. He ignored it while he scraped through a thick nest of twisting branches and landed with a heavy thump in a small pocket between the thorns. With bushes between them, Savage squinted out the sight of a lop-eared doe sporting a fearsome expression. Savage inhaled sharply and bit his own tongue to quell the urge to stamp his foot. He was here for a reason, he needed information, not to start a fight.

"Good," he grunted. "Bramblefell is where I want to be."

He cast a glance over the does shoulder, searching for signs of other rabbits, but the bushes were thick, obscuring his vision. He could smell them, though, underneath the taste of new sprigs and spring sap, seeds and spores on the air. He was a large, experienced buck. He could handle a fight if it came to that. He wasn't leaving until he found what he was looking for. Savage hunkered down and squeezed himself past the last wall of branches, shaking brambles from his coat when he cleared the other side. He kept a rabbit's length of space between himself and the doe, an ear turned outward toward the warren.

"I'm looking for rabbits."

wc: 208
twc: 419
@Ellanoire

 

[Ellanoire]

Malva watched the interloper shove his way through the brambles, heedless of their thorns. Yes, she'd met rabbits like this before. Cool indifference was the only acceptable way to handle them. Unless they had something you wanted. And Malva doubted this stranger had anything she was interested in.

"I do hope you've brought some sort of supplication for King Joxer, if this is where you want to be." She tossed an ear back over her body. "All of Hopscotch is filled with rabbits, and here you are, on our little patch of earth. Well, congratulations I suppose, rabbits you have found. Now, do tell me, what have you brought for King Joxer? A gift? A proposal? New knowledge?" She lightly tapped a paw, wondering how long her restful day was going to be interrupted for. She had better things to do ... Unless this strange had brought something. She weighed her options. Call the guards? Or see this little interaction out. If this buck had in fact brought something, it could elevate her even further in Joxer's eyes ... Perhaps it was worth a little more of her time. But just a little.

She raised a brow, waiting.

wc: 196
twc: 478
@bughnrahk

 

[bughnrahk]

Savage smothered a growl beneath his breath and twisted around to pry at the bark slats of his armor. At least the rabbits of this warren were smart. He'd met plenty fools easy to bully into spilling information. He might be able to rough his way past this soft doe too, but he was so close to the edge of her warren and the stink of numbers was all around him. He could fight off a few rabbits, sure, but this doe was clearly well cared for and how many soldiers would Savage have to face? He wanted to fight. He'd rather fight. But he didn't want to die or be made some sort of subject to this King Joxer. He needed to find his litter mates.

Savage hadn't exactly prepared to negotiate, but in his travels he'd picked up a few interesting pebbles. Maybe something was worth trading?

He clawed at his shoulder guard until a few crude stones tumbled out. He quickly stepped over them, digging his claws in the hard ground and leering at the doe, daring her to make a swipe for them.

He didn't know what they were, but they were... something. Hard like rocks but lustrous and partially transparent, a deep red-purple color, worn to white edges from rubbing inside the plates of Savage's armor. Some sort of stone, he guessed. They might have made a fearsome addition to his crown, but they'd be more useful as a bargaining tool if it meant he could track down his brothers.

"I've got these," he grunted, lifting his paw to reveal the cluster. "I'm looking for rabbits like me."

wc: 269
twc: 688

 

[Ellanoire]

Malva eyed the stones. Interesting enough, surely. If Joxer wasn't taken by them, someone else would be. She calmly watched how aggressively the buck guarded them, almost daring her. As if she didn't know better. Malva was well acquainted with rabbits with short tempers. And rabbits who thought they could just throw their weight around. Her hide might not be covered in scars, but she knew how to battle. At least with her words.

She raised a brow, waiting. "Perhaps I can provide a little information to you. But not until those are in my paws. You never know what sort of scheme some rabbits can get up to." She flashed a cold smile. If he objected, help was a mere shout away. Malva eyed him closely. Under his dye it was almost easy to miss those distinctive eyes. Malva was well acquainted with curious traits herself, but golden eyes like this strangers were new to her ...

wc: 157
twc: 635
@bughnrahk

 

[bughnrahk]

Savage grumbled and gnashed his teeth, clutching the stones tighter. He didn't want to hand them over unless he got what he wanted, but he was flat out of patience for this... this... bickering nonsense. He wanted information now and then to get out of the stink of this warren and its plump, happy rabbits. Savage raised his paw and kicked the stones toward the doe.

"Fine," he snarled. "There you are. Nice little shinies for your king Joxer."

He rose up on his haunches to peer over her body, bright eyes narrowed as he searched through the shadows of the bramble grove for other shape. He scratched at his face, pushing and prodding the yellow dye. "Are there rabbits like me out here?"

He didn't know if any of his littermates would still paint their faces, like he did, but they all had eerie bright eyes. Surely a well-spoken rabbit like this doe could pick up similarities like that, right?

"We've got no white markings like you," he added, for good measure. "All dark."

This better be worth the pebbles!

wc: 181
twc: 869

@Ellanoire

 

[Ellanoire]

Malva carefully, and slowly, scooped the shiny stones under her, admiring them briefly. "I'm sure our King will be please. Perhaps this could even by you a small margin of future favour. Maybe." She smiled, but it was far from friendly.

"While many Bramblefell members dye themselves, no dyed faces like yours are among our members." She looked cooly into his eyes. "And I can assure you no rabbits in our warren have bright eyes like yours. Though if you run into any does with such a trait, do send them our way. King Joxer would love to make their acquaintance. "

She looked him up and down carefully once more. "And I can assure you I have no reason to lie to you. King Joxer is well known for his love of unusual traits." She flipped her other ear back, as if to highlight her own most prominent feature. "Now, are you done in our territory? Or should I have someone escort you back through the brambles? Unless you're here to pledge your allegiance to the King, of course." She doubted that this brute was one to submit to a leader, but Joxer did have a fondness for collecting scrappers ... Provided they'd bow to his power.

wc: 206
twc: 841
@bughnrahk

 

[bughnrahk]

That was it? Nothing? Savage slapped at the dirt and thumped his foot, snarling as he whipped away from the doe. He dug his claws into the bramble roots and tore at them until they splintered and frayed. All this way for nothing! The urge to shove passed the doe and search her warren himself gripped him, thundered in his blood until it was all he could hear pumping through his head. That would only get him imprisoned or killed or... worse. Whatever worse was.

"I'm finished," he griped, leering at her over his shoulder. He shoved his way back through the brambles without another word, scrambling and gnashing against the biting thorns.

Maybe one day Scavenge would come back here with something better than shiny rocks and pledge himself to this King Joxer to live in his fancy warren with his fancy, long-eared does. But for now, he had brothers to find.

He might have better luck in a softer warren.

wc: 159
twc: 1028
@Ellanoire

 

[Ellanoire]

Malva was unmoved by his display. He could stomp. He could leave. He could growl. It had no meaningful effect on her. These stones however ... might buy her just a little more status. They were quite pretty. If no one else wanted them, well, she would quite enjoy them herself. She was quite sure someone else would want them, though.

She watched him go, fighting out through the brambles. He was certainly a rabbit on a mission. She pondered for a moment if their paths would cross again. Could he possibly be of use to her? It seemed unlikely at this juncture, but she wouldn't dismiss it. It was unwise not to consider all the ways a rabbit could be of use to you. But for now, it appeared that she would get to enjoy the remainder of her day. She cast her eyes about, looking for the softest brambles. No point in contesting the thorns when it wasn't needed, after all.

wc: 162
twc: 1003